A/N: Sorry guys I was away for a bit and couldn't really get to the computer while I was gone :P also thank you for all the reviews/follows/faves!

Disclaimer: Not mine :P just this plot.


Chapter 9: Manhunt

White Tiger's sharp eyes scanned the dark tunnels through the night-vision lenses of her mask. The wretched smell of sewer water invaded her nostrils and she held back the urge to gag.

Power Man and Nova had taken a different route through the network of sewers and now it was only Iron Fist behind her in the dark. Danny's fist glowed a soft gold that was enough to light his path. Tiger's eyes drank in the darkness branching out in front of the two heroes and let her eyes gaze up to the arched ceiling.

"There!" she pointed. Above their heads there were claw marks along the ceiling that lead in the direction they were heading. Iron Fist pointed down the tunnel, "They lead forward that way."

The heroine nodded and they raced forward into the tunnels.


Nova wasn't having the best of times at the moment. The day sucked to begin with and getting his shoulder nearly torn to pieces didn't help. His body glowed electric blue, igniting the tunnel for him and Power Man to see clearly. The arched ceilings, however, didn't allow enough room for flying, forcing him to trudge through the polluted waters on foot. Fun.

The hero hissed through his teeth as he felt more blood slip past his fingers and run down his arm. His shoulder throbbed and the open wound burned like hell.

Power Man slowed to a stop in his tracks."You okay, man? We should get you back to S.H.I.E.L.D. so they can patch you up. You shouldn't be on your feet," he said.

Nova's head was spinning. The burning from his shoulder spread like a fire to his neck and chest. He could hear his pulse in his ears. "No..." he eventually breathed. "I'm...fine. We can't leave Tiger and Iron Fist to look for that thing. Geez, these tunnels remind me of something out of Left 4 Dead."

As they began walking again Power Man chuckled, "Usually when someone mentions zombies or movie monsters they turn back."

Nova chuckled, which instantly shot pained shooting through his being. The hero's vision blurred, the fire seemed to spread. The world swayed and Nova pitched to his side, his good shoulder colliding with the stone wall.

"Errrgh..." he groaned. The azure glow emitting from him faded and torrents of red washed down his shoulder that he still clutched.

Power Man's eyes rounded, "Nova!"

He was feet away from his teammate and raced over to him as the other spoke.

"Sorry," Nova rasped, trying to give a sheepish grin through his bloody teeth. "Good thing you're not afraid of the dark, ya know?"

Before the blue glow vanished, Power Man saw the look melt off Nova's face as he pitched forward.


Peter couldn't remember the last time he ever hated the dark so much. His body felt numb as it could not lift a finger while he stared out into the black void surrounding him. The only sounds the teen could hear was the light rushing of water, an occasional drip from a pipe echoing in the dark and Carnage's raspy breathing.

I'm trapped.

Peter tried to clench his fists and noticed Carnage curl his fingers into the stone ceiling which he clung to. The monster hissed disdainfully. Was Carnage not in full control of his actions?

The echo of approaching footfalls made the mutant's back go rigid. Before Peter could comprehend what was happening, a blazing gold light flooded the tunnel and Carnage sprang forward in an attack.

NOOOO!

Carnage swiped his claws out at Iron Fist, but the hero dodged the attack and crashed his glowing fist into Carnage's stomach. The creature flew backwards from the blow and collided with the tunnel's stone walls. The crimson colored monster jumped to his feet and hissed at the heroes, swiping his tongue over his ragged teeth. The fight seemed to fall to a standoff. The heroes stood prepared to fight while Carnage began battling his inner demon that had become Peter.

Don't hurt them! You can't do this!

Cry all you want, I'll crush them! Carnage snapped back at Peter's pleas.

I'll stop you.

I'd like to see ya try, the monster taunted.

Watch me.

Like earlier, Peter felt his hands ball into fists and Carnage mimicked the motion. The mutant's milky white eyes widened in shock.

NO! he seethed. I'LL END THEM! I'LL CRUSH THEM JUST LIKE SPIDEY!

I'M NOT DEAD!

Peter screamed as Carnage roared and leaped forward against his will. Iron Fist and White Tiger ducked and gaped at the monster soaring over their heads and landing behind them with a loud splash. Carnage broke into a sprint down the tunnels.

"After him!" Iron Fist yelled and the two heroes chased after the creature.


Once again cascaded in darkness, Peter forced himself to run as fast as he could from his teammates. It was almost like wearing a suit of someone else's skin, he thought. Seeing their actions from their point of view.

He hated it.

His body felt cold as he ran numbly in the dark, his mind shaken out of its haze to a sharp awareness. Carnage's screeches pierced the damp air like nails on a chalkboard and ricocheted off the stone walls. The yells and splashing water drowning out Ava and Danny's calls of pursuit somewhere else in the underground labyrinth.

Turning left, Carnage threw himself to the side, bashing the left side of his body into the brick wall. Peter fought for control. The blue eyed boy rose his hand, Carnage mimicked and sank his claws into his own shoulder and dragged them across his chest, shrieking in pain and rage.

That was for Nova!

It was like Peter was a puppet master pulling strings. He gripped Carnage's shoulder and tugged and tugged and tugged, tearing at the monster's skin until the moist sewer air brushed against Peter's own flesh. Like tearing off mummy bandages.

The teen reached for his face, Carnage's screeching was cut off, the noise suddenly sounding like a human's scream; Peter's. He gulped two lungfuls of the putrid air before he felt cords of red wrap around his throat. The symbiot moved like thick goo and latched itself to Peter again—the boy screamed-and it molded itself into Carnage again, using the hero as a skeleton.

Peter felt the poison sear his skin. His voice sounded bone tired, dead.

What do you want with me?

Carnage's features twisted into his sick grin. Hearing the heroes approaching, the monster slipped into the tunnel's deeper shadows and gave his answer.

"To end you. To end Spider-man."


A/N: this took forever to write XP my schedule's kinda crazy for next week so I have no clue when i'll update next :P is anybody confused from the Carnage vs Peter thing? Leave a review?